Device for treating foodstuffs with a conveyor belt for conveying foodstuffs through a treatment zone

Abstract

A device for treating foodstuffs, in which the foodstuffs are conveyed by a conveyor belt through a treatment zone, such as tunnel freezers for freezing foodstuffs. The conveyor belt is supported by a frame on which sliding rails are mounted to reduce friction. The conveyor belt is guided over these sliding rails. To prevent hygiene problems such as those occurring due to gaps formed when the sliding rails are mounted on the carrier, the sliding rails are designed as self-supporting elements. The sliding rails here are preferably simply placed on the transverse bars of the supporting frame.

1. Device for treating foodstuffs, comprising a treatment zone in which a conveyor belt is situated for conveying the foodstuffs through the treatment zone, the conveyor belt being supported by a frame and sliding rails being mounted on the frame with the conveyor belt guided on them, wherein
 the sliding rails are self-supporting elements, 
 the sliding rails are made entirely of a low-friction plastic and are mounted on the frame, 
 the sliding rails, when in an installed position on the frame, are in a fixed and movable bearing construction which fixes at least a first end of the sliding rails in position relative to the frame while permitting at least a second end of the sliding rails to move relative to the frame to compensate for differences in thermal expansion, 
 the sliding rails have a cross-section which is essentially rectangular with a rail height greater than a rail width, and 
 the sliding rails are placed on fixed, non-rotatable transverse bars with only two points of contact with the transverse bars. 
 
     
     
       2. Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sliding rails are secured by nipples mounted on the transverse bars to prevent lateral slippage. 
     
     
       3. Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sliding rails are secured by spacers to prevent lateral slippage on the transverse bars. 
     
     
       4. Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the treatment zone is a food freezer. 
     
     
       5. Device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the treatment zone is a tunnel freezer. 
     
     
       6. A device for treating products, comprising:
 a conveyer for transport of a product; and 
 a refrigeration unit which includes a treatment zone through which the conveyer passes, 
 wherein
 the conveyer is guided on sliding rails supported by a supporting frame, 
 the sliding rails are self-supporting, 
 the sliding rails are made entirely of a low-friction plastic and are mounted on the frame, 
 
 the sliding rails, when in an installed position on the frame, are in a fixed and movable bearing construction which fixes at least a first end of the sliding rails in position relative to the frame while permitting at least a second end of the sliding rails to move relative to the frame to compensate for differences in thermal expansion, 
 the sliding rails have a cross-section which is essentially rectangular with a rail height greater than a rail width, and 
 the sliding rails are placed on fixed, non-rotatable transverse bars with only two points of contact with the transverse bars.